Lewis Hamilton has won the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but it wasn't a straightforward affair as Max Verstappen pulled off some questionable manoeuvres during the eventful race. Valtteri Bottas finished third by passing Ocon on the finish line.
I haven't seen the slow Mo yet but it almost looks like from Lewis's onboard that right before contact I can see Max's brake lights!
F1 cars don't have brake lights. They do have flashing red lights to warn that they're harvesting, which I believe Max's car would be doing if he was off throttle. Nothing to do with his brake pedal.
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I don’t understand Mercedes’ asking the FIA IF they can pass. The track is green? Max is slowing? Why is Lewis also slowing down behind him in the middle of a flat out straight? It’s so bizarre. I can’t imagine… what if max was just breaking down? Is Lewis going to slow to a halt behind him and retire? It’s just so… bizarre.
Have you not been watching? Hamilton sees a slowing Verstappen with no idea why. Alarm bells would be going off in Hamilton’s mind.
It could easily be a broker gearbox, LH attempt to break doesn't make any sense.
For me, the incident is nothing more than a. miscommunication first and b. questionable tactics (get DRS) from MV.
I am 100% sure noone wanted a DNF at least like that.
Last edited by tpe on 05 Dec 2021, 22:56, edited 1 time in total.
I can’t honestly remember seeing a collision during a place switch before, the guy in front tends to make a clear move offline. Being charitable I can only assume Max thought giving the place and then immediately re-passing Lewis with DRS would be acceptable. The weaving though…
Last edited by Mogster on 05 Dec 2021, 22:46, edited 2 times in total.
I believe Max shot himself in the foot when he let Lewis by and immediately passed him again. This demonstrates what he was doing when Lewis ran into the back of him, if it was at the same place, I don't quite recall exactly where Lewis passed him the second the time.
People questioning why Lewis didn't just go past Max when he slowed, come on, engage your brain (looking at you Paul Di Resta):
1) Max is known for moving under braking, going this way and the other way
2) Lewis may have been thinking there is a VSC or SC ahead - There had been several already
3) The drivers get penalised for not seeing a tiny flag whilst driving at 200 mph
1) Yeah, in the past he braked sooo many times in the middle of straight length
2,3) they passed by two flag screens & at least one marshal point, there were no flags showed/flashing. Hamilton isn't blind, is he?
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I believe Max shot himself in the foot when he let Lewis by and immediately passed him again. This demonstrates what he was doing when Lewis ran into the back of him, if it was at the same place, I don't quite recall exactly where Lewis passed him the second the time.
That replay of Verstappen ‘defending’ at turn 1 that led to the penalty looks absolutely shocking when you watch it back. Zero attempt to make the corner or stay on the track.
One thing that hasn’t been mentioned is how wonderfully Ocon handled the restarts. Very mature. Kept out of the way and let them get on with it. Much respect to him.
Was Lewis trying to wait until the DRS zone? We've seen people wait for DRS line a bunch of times. Thoughts were probably confusion -> drs/final corner -> I'll wait and take DRS.
I think data will say a lot. Did Max brake pretty randomly with Lewis right behind him? Or did Lewis forget to brake into the corner?
Michael Schumacher would be tipping his hat to MV if he ever saw this race. MV took dirty racing to a subtle level even he could hardly imagine. Schumacher pulled some of the dirtiest moves in the history of this sport, but not even he was this sinister.
The first restart where he lost the lead, but rejoined dangerously by jumping over the kerb into Ham's path, to take him out. The side by side into T1 where he didn't make it which earned him a penalty, and then the infamous incident where he was supposed to only let Lewis by clean were all very intelligently crafted to take him out of the race. He was content to DNF, as long as the same happened to Lewis. That's what happens when you drive in the points table, instead of the track.
Before, he came across as a driver that had massive talent but didn't care much about clean or fair racing. Tonight, he fully turned to the dark side.
This is not racing.
Last edited by Shrieker on 05 Dec 2021, 23:09, edited 3 times in total.
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